Downspout diverter



United States Patent 3,481,366 DOWN SPOUT DIVERTER Albert W. Mortonson,6103 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fla. 33581 Filed Sept. 11, 1967, Ser.No. 666,874 Int. Cl. F16k 11 /02; E03b 3/02 US. Cl. 137-612 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A downspout diverter consisting of a verticalconduit with a pivot pin spanned across it and a channel with areciprocal spiral slot on each of its walls, the slot pivotable aboutsaid pin to form a flow diverter.

high cost of fabrication and installation makes it unattractive forpopular use.

US. Patent 124,053 teaches an improvement, but it too, as one briefglance at the drawing will reveal, is somewhat complex.

U.S. Patent 1,217,938 shows a valve for suction or blower conduits. Butthis valve requires the use of side plates, as well as a separatelocking device. Complex overlapping of parts is also required to preventleakage and this further complicates the structure.

An object of this invention is to provide a flow diverter of simplifieddesign and construction.

Another object is to provide a diverter of the above character capableof altering the flow path of a liquid from its normal path to analternate path.

Still another object is to provide a diverter of the above characterwhich effectively and substantially seals oif the normal path when usedto divert such path of flow.

A further object is to provide a diverter which can channel a liquidflow to cause it to pour into a storage device such as a cistern.

A still further object is to provide a diverter of the above characterfor a drainpipe which is easily installed.

Another object is to provide a diverter of the above character which issimple in structure.

Another object is to provide a diverter of the above character whichblends into the drainpipe when not in use for a neater appearance.

Another object is to provide a diverter of the above character which issubstantially foolproof in operation.

Another object is to provide a=diverter of the above character which issimple to fabricate.

Another object is to provide a diverter of the above character which isdurable.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

A novel device has now been devised which satisfies the aboveobjectives. It comprises a vertical conduit and a slotted bipositionalchannel; the channel being mounted on a pivot pin affixed to theconduit. The slot has the general form of a reciprocal spiral. When thechannel is in the closed, or undiverting position, it forms a section ofthe conduit wall. In the diverting position, which is accomplished byrotating the channel about the pivot pin until the channel seals off themain path of fiow of the 3,481,366 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 conduit,substantially complete diversion of the liquid flow is accomplished.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the diverter of this invention showingit employed as a downspout diverter for the rainwater runoff system of abuilding.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the diverter in the closedposition.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the diverter in the open,or diverting, position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

With special reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that thediverter of this invention is comprised of a vertical conduit 10, aslotted bipositional channel 20, and a pivot pin 24. The ends 11 ofconduit 10 are shaped for easy insertion into the vertical conduit.Usually, such is accomplished by corrugating the ends. The pivot pin 25is mounted, and extends diametrically through the exterior side walls ofthe vertical conduit 10, and also through the slot 30 of thebipositional channel 20.

It can best be seen in FIG. 2, that is the closed position, the slottedchannel 20 serves as a portion of side Wall 12 and a portion of the facewill 14, and theback wall (not shown) of the vertical conduit 10. Inthis position, the channel 20 and vertical conduit 10 forms a compositeclosed duct. The flow is thereby confined to the vertical or normalpathway 16. The edges of the walls of the channel fit into cutouts 13(only one shown) in conduit 10.

In order to divert the flow, it is only necessary to place the slottedchannel in the open position. This is accomplished by grasping thechannel near its uppermost extremity 27 and lifting it. Such movementwill cause the channel 20 to slide along the pivot pin, decreasing thedistance between the pin 25 and the lower extremity 28 of the channel20. The channel 20 is then rotated in a clockwise manner about the pinuntil it is perpendicular to the vertical duct. The pivot pin will thenbe at point A along slot 30. As the channel is further rotated in aclockwise manner, the slot 30 continues to slide on the pivot pin untilthe pin is at point -B. The channel can then be lowered causing the pinto be positioned at the endmost extremity C of slot 30. Further rotationof the channel causes the extreme edge 31 of the diverting surface tocome into sealing contact with the interior surface 40 of verticalconduit 10, thereby completely blocking-the normal path of flow. In thisposition, the lower surface of the channel is supported by edge 42.

It is worthy of mention that while the opening process is described in asequential manner, this is done to increase the clarity of descriptiononly. The actual opening of the physical device can be considered as onecontinuous process.

When the diverter is in the open position, substantially all liquidflowing from the upper portion of the vertical conduit will be deflectedto exit at channel end 36.

The net result of the weight of the fluid in the channel will be toproduce a net moment about the pin in a clockwise manner, therebyrequiring that the diverting surface 32 will be held firmly in contactwith the interior wall of the vetrtical conduit 10. This will minimizeleakage into the normal pathway at this point.

The construction of this invention is such as to provide a simplemechanism which is easily fabricated by two separate forgings,stampings, or similar processes and is readily assembled by the simpleinsertion of a pivot pin.

Ease of installation is provided 'by the nature of the device which maybe considered to be another section of the ducting, and in application,may actually be such.

It is preferred that the diverter be constructed of corrosion resistantmaterial such as zinc plated sheet steel, sheet aluminum and the like.Since it has few moving parts, wear will be kept to a minimum. And,since its structure is so simple, its cost will be only slightly morethan the cost of the section of conduit it replaces. It should beevident that it is easily fabricated. It may be installed by simplereplacement of a section of drainpipe.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained, and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed is:

1. A device for diverting liquid flow comprising a vertical conduit witha pivot pin affixed thereto and a bipositional channel with a slot oneach of its walls, said slot having the general form ofa reciprocalspiral, said channel being reciprocal upon said pivot pin via said slot.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said channel in closed position forms asection of the wall of said conduit.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said channel in open positionsubstantially seals off the main path of flow through said conduit viaan edge which comes into substantial sealing contact with the interiorsurface of said conduit.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said conduit has open corrugated endsfor ready insertion into a drainpipe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 117,493 7/1871 Wetmore et al.137612 124,053 2/1872 Goodard 137-612 1,217,938 3/1917 Guice 137-612ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 19329

